Question 1

Is Chicago or Memphis cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $580/month less than in Chicago, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,781/mo in Chicago versus $1,274/mo in Memphis.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Chicago vs Memphis?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $77,500/year before tax in Chicago, IL and $60,500/year in Memphis, TN — a difference of about $17,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Chicago or Memphis cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,504/month in Chicago and $6,533/month in Memphis, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Chicago or Memphis?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Memphis costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Chicago62	Memphis57
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,110	$3,530
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,504	$6,533
Salary for comfort	$77,500/yr	$60,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,781	$1,274
Median home value	$315,200	$157,100
Median household income	$75,134	$51,211
Unemployment	5.4%	4.7%
Housing score	54	68
Jobs score	7	31
Safety score	66	4
Climate score	92	100
Amenities score	73	47
Population	2.7M	629.1K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	90° / 30°

Chicago, IL vs Memphis, TN